Method and apparatus for allocating and transmitting time and frequency resource for resource request indicator

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus are provided to allocate a time and frequency resource of a resource request indicator (RRI) and to transmit an RRI. Codes are allocated for an RRI and other (such as non-RRI) uplink control signaling. The RRI and other uplink control signaling can be multiplexed in the same time and frequency resource, such as through multiplexing in a code division manner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/606,610, filed on Oct. 27, 2009, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2008/070657, filed on Apr. 1, 2008.The International Application claims priority to Chinese PatentApplication No. 200710074241.0, filed on Apr. 27, 2007, and ChinesePatent Application No. 200710127615.0, filed on Jun. 18, 2007. Theafore-mentioned patent applications are hereby incorporated by referencein their entireties.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to a wireless communication technique, andmore particularly to a technique for allocating a time and frequencyresource for a resource request indicator (RRI) and a technique fortransmitting an RRI.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a current orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM/OFDMA)wireless communication system, if there is data waiting to be sent, auser terminal, synchronized with a base station already, needs to sendan RRI to the base station, so as to request the base station toallocate an uplink transmission resource (hereafter referred to as atime and frequency resource) adapted to bear the data. The RRI is alsocalled a scheduling request indicator (SRI). After receiving the RRI, ifthe base station allocates a time and frequency resource for the userterminal, the base station sends resource allocation information to theuser terminal. The user terminal also requires a time and frequencyresource when sending the RRI, so the base station needs to allocate thetime and frequency resource adapted to bear the RRI for the userterminal in advance.

There is known a method for allocating a time and frequency resourceadapted to bear an RRI for the user terminal. In this current method, atime and frequency resource separately reserved is shared by certainuser terminals to send the RRIs. The RRI of each user terminal employsall the OFDM symbols in one time slot, and the RRIs of different userterminals are differentiated through different time and frequencytwo-dimensional code sequences. The time and frequency two-dimensionalcode sequences refer to code sequences two-dimensionally extended intime domain and frequency domain, and any two of the code sequences areorthogonal or quasi-orthogonal with each other.

During the process of realizing the present invention, the inventorsfind that the conventional art at least has the following problems. Abase station needs to reserve a relatively fixed time and frequencyresource of all the time and frequency resources. The relatively fixedtime and frequency resource is allocated for a data part and a pilotpart of an ACKnowledgement (ACK) signal, and will be only used by theACK. Besides, in the foregoing current method, the base station alsoneeds to reserve a time and frequency resource which is allocated forthe user terminal to bear the RRI. In other words, the time andfrequency resources reserved by the base station include not only thetime and frequency resource for the data part and the pilot part of theACK, but also the time and frequency resource for the RRI, whichincreases the overhead of the reserved resource distinctly, and furtherreduces the time and frequency resources that the base station coulddynamically allocate for an uplink user data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for allocating a time and frequency resource for an RRI isprovided in the present invention, which can help the base stationreduce the overhead of the time and frequency resource.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for allocatinga time and frequency resource for an RRI, which includes: allocatingcodes for an RRI and other uplink control signaling, and multiplexingthe RRI and other uplink control signaling in the same time andfrequency resource in a code division manner.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a device forallocating a time and frequency resource, which includes an allocatingunit and a multiplexing unit. The allocating unit is configured toallocate codes for an RRI and other uplink control signaling. Themultiplexing unit is configured to multiplex the RRI and other uplinkcontrol signaling in the same time and frequency resource in a codedivision manner.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a base station,which includes an allocating unit and a multiplexing unit. Theallocating unit is configured to allocate codes for an RRI and otheruplink control signaling. The multiplexing unit is configured tomultiplex the RRI and other uplink control signaling in the same timeand frequency resource in a code division manner.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the time and frequencyresource for the RRI and other uplink control signaling are multiplexedin the same time and frequency resource, without allocating additionaltime and frequency resource for the RRI, thereby reducing the overheadof the time and frequency resource.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an uplink ACK resource in theconventional art;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of resource allocation according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of sending RRIs at assigned time pointsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of resource allocation according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of resource allocation according to thefifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is schematic view of a device for allocating a time andfrequency resource of a resource request indicator according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is schematic view of a device for processing an RRI according toan embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a method for allocating a time andfrequency resource for an RRI, which includes: allocating codes for anRRI and other uplink control signaling, and multiplexing the RRI andother uplink control signaling in the same time and frequency resourcein a code division manner. For example, the other uplink controlsignaling includes an ACK.

In one aspect of the present invention, extended manners in time domainand frequency domain corresponding to the codes allocated for the RRIare respectively the same as extended manners in time domain andfrequency domain corresponding to the codes allocated for a data part ofthe ACK, and the codes allocated for the RRI are orthogonal with thecodes allocated for the data part of the ACK in time domain and/orfrequency domain.

Further, the RRI and the ACK may be multiplexed in the same time andfrequency resource in the following manner, that is, the time andfrequency resource on which the RRI is sent is the same as the time andfrequency resource on which the data part of the ACK is sent.

In another aspect of the present invention, extending manners in timedomain and frequency domain corresponding to the codes allocated for theRRI are respectively the same as extended manners in time domain andfrequency domain corresponding to the codes allocated for a pilot partof the ACK, and the codes allocated for the RRI are orthogonal with thecodes allocated for the pilot part of the ACK in time domain and/orfrequency domain.

Further, the RRI and the ACK may be multiplexed in the same time andfrequency resource in the following manner, that is, the time andfrequency resource on which the RRI is sent is the same as the time andfrequency resource on which the pilot part of the ACK is sent.

In another aspect of the present invention, in a first time slot of onetransmission time interval, extended manners in time domain andfrequency domain corresponding to the codes allocated for the RRI arerespectively the same as extended manners in time domain and frequencydomain corresponding to the codes allocated for a pilot part of the ACK,and the codes allocated for the RRI are orthogonal with the codesallocated for the pilot part of the ACK in time domain and/or frequencydomain. Besides, in a second time slot of the transmission timeinterval, extended manners in time domain and frequency domaincorresponding to the codes allocated for the RRI are respectively thesame as extended manners in time domain and frequency domaincorresponding to the codes allocated for the data part of the ACK, andthe codes allocated for the RRI are orthogonal with the codes allocatedfor the data part of the ACK in time domain and/or frequency domain.

Further, the RRI and the ACK may be multiplexed in the same time andfrequency resource in the following manner, that is, in the first timeslot of the transmission time interval, the time and frequency resourceon which the RRI is sent is the same as the time and frequency resourceon which the pilot part of the ACK is sent, and in the second time slotof the transmission time interval, the time and frequency resource onwhich the RRI is sent is the same as the time and frequency resource onwhich the data part of the ACK is sent.

In another aspect of the present invention, in a first time slot of onetransmission time interval, extended manners in time domain andfrequency domain corresponding to the codes allocated for the RRI arerespectively the same as extended manners in time domain and frequencydomain corresponding to the codes allocated for a data part of the ACK,and the codes allocated for the RRI are orthogonal with the codesallocated for the data part of the ACK in time domain and/or frequencydomain. Besides, in a second time slot of the transmission timeinterval, extended manners in time domain and frequency domaincorresponding to the codes allocated for the RRI are respectively thesame as extended manners in time domain and frequency domaincorresponding to the codes allocated for the pilot part of the ACK, andthe codes allocated for the RRI are orthogonal with the codes allocatedfor the pilot part of the ACK in time domain and/or frequency domain.

Further, the RRI and the ACK may be multiplexed in the same time andfrequency resource in the following manner, that is, in the first timeslot of the transmission time interval, the time and frequency resourceon which the RRI is sent is the same as the time and frequency resourceon which the data part of the ACK is sent, and in the second time slotof the transmission time interval, the time and frequency resource onwhich the RRI is sent is the same as the time and frequency resource onwhich the pilot part of the ACK is sent.

In another aspect of the present invention, if there are two codesallocated for one user terminal in one time slot, extended manners intime domain and frequency domain corresponding to one code allocated forthe RRI are respectively the same as extended manners in time domain andfrequency domain corresponding to the code allocated for the pilot partof the ACK, and the code allocated for the RRI is orthogonal with thecode allocated for the pilot part of the ACK in time domain and/orfrequency domain. Besides, extended manners in time domain and frequencydomain corresponding to the other code allocated for the RRI arerespectively the same as extended manners in time domain and frequencydomain corresponding to the code allocated for the data part of the ACK,and the other code allocated for the RRI is orthogonal with the codeallocated for the data part of the ACK in time domain and/or frequencydomain.

Further, the RRI and the ACK may be multiplexed in the same time andfrequency resource in the following manner, that is, the time andfrequency resource corresponding to one code on which the RRI is sent isthe same as the time and frequency resource on which the pilot part ofthe ACK is sent, and the time and frequency resource corresponding tothe other code on which the RRI is sent is the same as the time andfrequency resource on which the data part of the ACK is sent.

In another aspect of the present invention, extended manners infrequency domain corresponding to the codes allocated for the RRI arethe same as extended manners in frequency domain corresponding to thecodes allocated for a data part and a pilot part of other uplink controlsignaling, and the codes allocated for the RRI are orthogonal with thecodes allocated for the data part and the pilot part of other uplinkcontrol signaling in frequency domain.

Further, the RRI and the ACK may be multiplexed in the same time andfrequency resource in the following manner, that is, the time andfrequency resources on which the RRI is sent are the same as the timeand frequency resources on which the data part and the pilot part of theACK are sent.

The methods provided by the foregoing embodiments of the presentinvention may be realized by using at least one device. For example, asshown in FIG. 11, a device 11 for allocating a time and frequencyresource of an RRI includes an allocating unit 1110 and a multiplexingunit 1020. The allocating unit 1110 is configured to allocate codes foran RRI and other uplink control signaling. The multiplexing unit 1120 isconfigured to multiplex the RRI and the other uplink control signalingin the same time and frequency resource in a code division manner.

The device may be applied to a base station, and an embodiment of thepresent invention further provides a base station, which includes anallocating unit and a multiplexing unit. The allocating unit isconfigured to allocate codes for an RRI and other uplink controlsignaling. The multiplexing unit is configured to multiplex the RRI andthe other uplink control signaling in the same time and frequencyresource in a code division manner.

An embodiment that provides a method for allocating the time andfrequency resource for the RRI includes: codes adapted to bear the RRIfor the user terminals are selected from a code collection determinedaccording to the time and frequency resources allocated for an ACKsignal. Then, the selected codes are allocated for the user terminals,and the user terminals are assigned to send the RRI on the time andfrequency resource allocated for the ACK.

Alternatively, before the codes adapted to bear the RRI are selected forthe user terminals, the embodiment may further include that the numberof the codes adapted to bear the RRI is determined.

Further, the codes adapted to bear the RRI, the number of which does notexceed the determined number of the codes adapted to bear the RRI, maybe selected for the user terminals from all the codes that are notallocated for the ACK.

Alternatively, before the codes adapted to bear the RRI are selected forthe user terminals, the embodiment may further include that all thecodes adapted to bear the RRI is determined.

Further, the codes adapted to bear the RRI may be selected for the userterminals from all the codes that could be adapted to bear the RRI.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the codes adapted to bearthe RRI may be the codes that are not allocated for the ACK in a codecollection. Alternatively, the code collection may be determinedaccording to a pilot time and frequency resource allocated for the ACK,or a data time and frequency resource allocated for the ACK.

If a plurality of user terminals is allocated with the same codes, eachuser terminal is assigned to send the RRI at a different time point.

Another embodiment provides a method for sending an RRI includes: Codesadapted to bear the RRI and time points for sending the RRI areobtained, and the codes adapted to bear the RRI are selected from a codecollection determined according to time and frequency resourcesallocated for an ACK signal. When there's data waiting to be sent, thecodes adapted to bear the RRI are sent on the time and frequencyresource allocated for the ACK at the obtained time points.

Further, if the time point obtained is reached and the ACK needs to besent at the same time, the ACK may not be sent, or the codes adapted tobear the RRI may not be sent or delayed to be sent.

Further, in the embodiment, the time point may be a periodic time point.In this case, if the time point obtained is reached and the ACK needs tobe sent at the same time, the embodiment may further include: sendingthe codes adapted to bear the RRI at one or more subsequent periodictime points.

Another embodiment provides a method for dealing with an RRI, and theembodiment includes: the codes adapted to bear the RRI sent by userterminals on time and frequency resources allocated for an ACK atassigned time point are received, and the codes adapted to bear the RRIare detected to determine the user terminal that sends the codes. In theembodiment, the codes adapted to bear the RRI are the codes selectedfrom a code collection and allocated for the user terminals. The codecollection is determined according to the time and frequency resourceallocated for the ACK. The assigned time point is the time pointspre-assigned for the user terminals to send the RRI.

To allocate a time and frequency resource for an ACK which is mentionedin the foregoing embodiments is described below.

In an OFDM/OFDMA wireless communication system, a base station allocatesor reserves one common time and frequency resource for ACK channels of aplurality of user terminals. On the common time and frequency resource,the ACK channels of the plurality of user terminals at one time point(for example, in one sub-frame) may be multiplexed in a code divisionmanner, and the ACK channels of different user terminals may bedifferentiated through different codes.

The common time and frequency resource may be further divided into atime and frequency resource used by the pilot part of the ACK (hereafterbriefly referred to as the pilot time and frequency resource) and a timeand frequency resource used by the data part of the ACK (hereafterbriefly referred to as the data time and frequency resource). In eachtime slot, the pilot time and frequency resource occupies several OFDMsymbols, and the data time and frequency resource occupies the otherseveral OFDM symbols. The pilot time and frequency resource is adaptedto bear the pilot part of the ACK, and the pilot parts of the ACKs ofdifferent user terminals are differentiated through different codes. Thedata time and frequency resource is adapted to bear the data part, andthe data parts of the ACKs of different user terminals aredifferentiated through different codes. In addition, as for the uplinkACK transmission, the number of the codes accommodated in the pilot timeand frequency resource equals to the number of the user terminalsaccommodated in the pilot time and frequency resource. The number ofcodes accommodated in the data time and frequency resource equals to thenumber of the user terminals accommodated in the data time and frequencyresource.

In time domain, the ACK channel of each user terminal occupies onesub-frame which includes two time slots, and the information in the twotime slots may be the same. In frequency domain, the ACK channel of eachuser terminal occupies two time slots of the sub-frame in a frequencyhopping manner. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an uplink ACKresource. The OFDM symbols occupied by the pilot time and frequencyresource and the data time and frequency resource may be determinedaccording to the actual situations, and the structure as shown in FIG. 1is only one of the structures.

If the base station receives the pilot parts of the ACKs of all the userterminals, it differentiates the pilot parts of the ACKs of differentuser terminals through the different codes. Since the data parts of theACKs are sent in a coherent detection manner, the base stationdemodulates the data parts of the ACKs on the data time and frequencyresource through the pilot parts of the ACKs. That is, the base stationobtains the data parts of the ACKs corresponding to the user terminalson the data time and frequency resource, based on the pilot parts of theACKs of the user terminals.

The following embodiments of the present invention provide some examplesof the foregoing embodiments with the details.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a first embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 2, the first embodiment provides a method including thefollowing steps S201 to S204.

In Step S201, all the codes on the pilot time and frequency resource areallocated for the pilot part of the ACK, and the codes on the data timeand frequency resource are partially allocated for the data part of theACK and partially allocated for the RRI. The codes on the data time andfrequency resource adopt the same extended manners in time domain andfrequency domain, and are orthogonal in time domain and/or frequencydomain. The codes on the pilot time and frequency resource adopt thesame extended manners in time domain and frequency domain, and areorthogonal in time domain and/or frequency domain.

In this step, all the codes on the pilot time and frequency resource areallocated for the pilot part of the ACK, and the codes on the data timeand frequency resource are divided into a code set adapted to bear thedata part of the ACK and a code set adapted to bear the RRI. That is,the data part of the ACK and the RRI are multiplexed in the data timeand frequency resource in a code division manner, and the time andfrequency resource on which the RRI is sent is the same as the time andfrequency resource on which the data part of the ACK is sent, but therespective corresponding codes are different. For example, in one timeand frequency resource unit, the number of codes accommodated in thedata time and frequency resource is 24, and the number of codesaccommodated in the pilot time and frequency resource is 18. When allthe codes on the pilot time and frequency resource are allocated for thepilot part of the ACK, the ACK channels are allocated for at most 18user terminals. The other 6 codes of the data time and frequencyresource may form a code set adapted to bear the RRI, that is, may beallocated for 6 user terminals. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of resourceallocation.

In Step S202, the codes in the code set adapted to bear the RRI areallocated for the user terminals (for example, voice over Internetprotocol (VoIP) users), and the time point (sub-frame) for each userterminal to send the RRI is assigned. A plurality of user terminals maybe allocated with the same code, and assigned with different sendingtime points. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the base stationrespectively allocates an RRI code for the user terminals A and B, andthe RRI code for the user terminal A is the same as the RRI code for theuser terminal B, which is code1. The sending period of the user terminalA is the same as the sending period of the user terminal B, which is 20ms (or 20 sub-frames, 1 ms/sub-frame). The base station assigns the userterminal A to send the RRI at a second frame, and assigns the userterminal B to send the RRI at a third frame.

The embodiment only including Step S201 and Step S202 provides themethod for resource allocation. When there's data waiting to be sent atthe user terminal, the user terminal sends an RRI to the base station,and then the base station processes the RRI. An embodiment of the methodfor sending the RRI and an embodiment of the method for processing theRRI are respectively introduced through Step S203 and Step S204 asfollows.

In Step S203, when the user terminal has data waiting to be sent, theuser terminal sends the allocated RRI codes on the data time andfrequency resource at the assigned time point (sub-frame). If the userterminal has the data part of the ACK to be sent at the same time, theuser terminal may delay sending the RRI until the subsequent time point(sub-frame) assigned by the base station, or may not send the RRI.

In Step S204, after receiving the RRI, the base station detects the RRIcodes in an incoherent detection manner, and determines the userterminal that sends the RRI according to the transmission time point(sub-frame). For example, at a 22nd frame in FIG. 4, the base stationdetects the code1, and then determines that it is the user terminal Athat sends the code1.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a second embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 5, the second embodiment provides a method includingthe following steps S501 to S504.

In Step S501, a part of the codes on the pilot time and frequencyresource are allocated for the pilot part of the ACK, and the codes onthe data time and frequency resource are divided into a code set adaptedto bear the data part of the ACK and a code set adapted to bear the RRI.The codes on the data time and frequency resource adopt the sameextended manners in time domain and frequency domain, and are orthogonalin time domain and/or frequency domain. The codes on the pilot time andfrequency resource adopt the same extended manners in time domain andfrequency domain and are orthogonal in time domain and/or frequencydomain. The data part of the ACK and the RRI are multiplexed in the datatime and frequency resource in a code division manner, and the time andfrequency resource on which the RRI is sent is the same as the time andfrequency resource on which the data part of the ACK is sent, but therespective corresponding codes are different. For example, in one timeand frequency resource unit, the number of codes accommodated in thedata time and frequency resource is 24, and the number of codesaccommodated in the pilot time and frequency resource is 18. If 10 codeson the pilot time and frequency resource are allocated for the pilotpart of the ACK, that is, the ACK channels are allocated for 10 userterminals in one time and frequency resource unit. Correspondingly,there are 14 codes on the data time and frequency resource in the codeset adapted to bear the RRI. In addition, if there are the codes on thepilot time and frequency resource that are not allocated, such codeswill not be allocated for the user terminals to use.

In Step S502, the codes in the code set adapted to bear the RRI areallocated for the user terminals (for example, VoIP users), and the timepoint (sub-frame) for each user terminal to send the RRI is assigned.For example, the base station allocates the code1 for the VoIP userterminal A as the RRI code, instructs that a sending period is 20 ms (or20 frames, 1 ms/sub-frame), and assigns the VoIP user terminal A to sendthe RRI at a second frame.

The embodiment only including Step S501 and Step S502 provides themethod for resource allocation. When there's data waiting to be sent atthe user terminal, the user terminal sends the RRI to the base station,and then the base station processes the RRI. An embodiment of the methodfor sending the RRI and an embodiment of the method for processing theRRI are respectively introduced through Step S503 and Step S504 asfollows.

In Step S503, when the user terminal has data waiting to be sent, theuser terminal sends the allocated RRI codes on the data time andfrequency resource at the assigned time point (sub-frame). If the userterminal has the data part of the ACK to be sent at the same time, theuser terminal may delay sending the RRI until the subsequent time point(sub-frame) assigned by the base station, or may not send the RRI.

In Step S504, after receiving the RRI, the base station detects the RRIcodes in an incoherent detection manner, and determines the userterminal that sends the RRI according to the transmission time point(sub-frame). For example, at the 22nd frame in FIG. 4, the base stationdetects the code1, and then determines that it is the user terminal Athat sends the code1.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a third embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 6, the third embodiment provides a method including thefollowing steps S601 to S604.

In Step S601, the codes on the pilot time and frequency resource aredivided into a code set adapted to bear the pilot part of the ACK and acode set adapted to bear the RRI, and the codes on the data time andfrequency resource are divided into a code set adapted to bear the datapart of the ACK and a code set adapted to bear the RRI. The codes on thedata time and frequency resource adopt the same extended manners in timedomain and frequency domain, and are orthogonal in time domain and/orfrequency domain. The codes on the pilot time and frequency resourceadopt the same extended manners in time domain and frequency domain, andare orthogonal in time domain and/or frequency domain. The pilot part ofthe ACK and the RRI are multiplexed in the pilot time and frequencyresource in a code division manner, and the time and frequency resourceon which the RRI is sent is the same as the time and frequency resourceon which the pilot part of the ACK is sent, but the respectivecorresponding codes are different. The data part of the ACK and the RRIare multiplexed in the data time and frequency resource in the codedivision manner, and the time and frequency resource on which the RRI issent is the same as the time and frequency resource on which the datapart of the ACK is sent, but the respective corresponding codes aredifferent. For example, in one time and frequency resource unit, thenumber of codes accommodated in the data time and frequency resource is24, and the number of codes accommodated in the pilot time and frequencyresource is 18. If 10 codes on the pilot time and frequency resource areallocated for the pilot part of the ACK, that is, the ACK channels areallocated for 10 user terminals in one time and frequency resource unit.Correspondingly, there are 14 codes on the data time and frequencyresource in the code set adapted to bear the RRI, and the other 8 codeson the pilot time and frequency resource may be the codes adapted tobear the RRI.

In Step S602, the codes in the code sets adapted to bear the RRI areallocated for the user terminals, and the time point (sub-frame) foreach user terminal to send the RRI is assigned.

The embodiment only including Step S601 and Step S602 provides a methodfor resource allocation. When there's data waiting to be sent at theuser terminal, the user terminal sends the RRI to the base station, andthen the base station processes the RRI. An embodiment of the method forsending the RRI and an embodiment of the method for processing the RRIare introduced respectively through Step S603 and Step S604 as follows.

In Step S603, when the user terminal allocated with the RRI codes on thedata time and frequency resource has data waiting to be sent, the userterminal sends the allocated RRI codes on the data time and frequencyresource at the assigned time point (sub-frame). If the user terminalhas the data part of the ACK to be sent at the same time, the userterminal may delay sending the RRI until the subsequent time point(sub-frame) assigned by the base station, or may not send the RRI.

When the user terminal allocated with the RRI codes on the pilot timeand frequency resource has data waiting to be sent, the user terminalsends the allocated RRI codes on the pilot time and frequency resourceat the assigned time point (sub-frame). If the user terminal has thepilot part of the ACK to be sent at the same time, the user terminal maydelay sending the RRI until the subsequent time point (sub-frame)assigned by the base station, and definitely may not send the RRI.

In Step S604, after receiving the RRI, the base station detects the RRIcodes in an incoherent detection manner, and determines the userterminal that sends the RRI according to the transmission time point(sub-frame).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 7, the fourth embodiment provides a method includingthe following steps S701 to S704.

In Step S701, the codes on the pilot time and frequency resource aredivided into the code set adapted to bear the pilot part of the ACK andthe code set adapted to bear the RRI, and the codes on the data time andfrequency resource are divided into the code set adapted to bear thedata part of the ACK and the code set adapted to bear the RRI. The codeson the data time and frequency resource adopt the same extended mannersin time domain and frequency domain, and are orthogonal in time domainand/or frequency domain. The codes on the pilot time and frequencyresource adopt the same extended manners in time domain and frequencydomain, and are orthogonal in time domain and/or frequency domain. Thepilot part of the ACK and a part of the RRI are multiplexed in the pilottime and frequency resource in a code division manner, and the time andfrequency resource on which the part of the RRI is sent is the same asthe time and frequency resource on which the pilot part of the ACK issent, but the respective corresponding codes are different. The datapart of the ACK and the other part of the RRI are multiplexed in thedata time and frequency resource in the code division manner, and thetime and frequency resource on which the other part of the RRI is sentis the same as the time and frequency resource on which the data part ofthe ACK is sent, but the respective corresponding codes are different.For example, in one time and frequency resource unit, the number ofcodes accommodated in the data time and frequency resource is 24, andthe number of codes accommodated in the pilot time and frequencyresource is 18. If 10 codes on the pilot time and frequency resource maybe allocated for the pilot part of the ACK, that is, the ACK channelsare allocated for 10 user terminals in one time and frequency resourceunit. Correspondingly, there are 14 codes on the data time and frequencyresource in the code set adapted to bear the RRI, and the other 8 codeson the pilot time and frequency resource may be the codes adapted tobear the RRI.

In Step S702, the codes adapted to bear the RRI on the data time andfrequency resource and the pilot time and frequency resource arerespectively allocated for one user terminal (for example, VoIP user),and the user terminal is assigned to send the RRI at different timeslots of one time point (sub-frame). As shown in FIG. 8, the basestation allocates the code1 adapted to bear the RRI on the data time andfrequency resource for the VoIP user terminal A, and assigns the userterminal A to send the RRI on the data time and frequency resource in aformer time slot. Besides, the base station also allocates the code2adapted to bear the RRI on the pilot time and frequency resource for theuser terminal A, and assigns the user terminal A to send the RRI on thepilot time and frequency resource in a latter time slot. In addition,the base station instructs that the sending period of the user terminalA is 20 ms (or 20 frames, 1 ms/frame), and the RRI is sent at a secondframe. Alternatively, the base station allocates the code1 adapted tobear the RRI on the data time and frequency resource for the VoIP userterminal B, and assigns the user terminal B to send the RRI on the datatime and frequency resource in the latter time slot. Besides, the basestation also allocates the code2 adapted to bear the RRI on the pilottime and frequency resource for the user terminal B, and assigns theuser terminal B to send the RRI on the pilot time and frequency resourcein the former time slot. In addition, the base station further instructsthat the sending period of the user terminal B is 20 ms (or 20 frames, 1ms/frame), and the RRI is sent at the second frame.

The embodiment only including Step S701 and Step S702 provides themethod for resource allocation. When there's data waiting to be sent atthe user terminal, the user terminal sends the RRI to the base station,and then the base station processes the RRI. An embodiment of the methodfor sending the RRI and an embodiment of the method for processing theRRI are respectively introduced through Step S703 and Step S704 asfollows.

In Step S703, when the user terminal has data waiting to be sent, theuser terminal sends the allocated RRI codes on the assigned time point.If the user terminal has an ACK to be sent at the same time, the userterminal may delay sending the RRI until the subsequent time point(sub-frame) assigned by the base station, or may not send the RRI.

In Step S704, after receiving the RRI, the base station detects the RRIcodes in the incoherent detection manner, and determines the userterminal that sends the RRI according to the transmission time point(sub-frame).

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.As shown in FIG. 9, the fifth embodiment provides a method including thefollowing steps S901 to S904.

In Step S901, the codes on the pilot time and frequency resource aredivided into the code set adapted to bear the pilot part of the ACK andthe code set adapted to bear the RRI, and the codes on the data time andfrequency resource are divided into the code set adapted to bear thedata part of the ACK and the code set adapted to bear the RRI. The codeson the data time and frequency resource adopt the same extended mannersin time domain and frequency domain, and are orthogonal in time domainand/or frequency domain. The codes on the pilot time and frequencyresource adopt the same extended manners in time domain and frequencydomain, and are orthogonal in time domain and/or frequency domain. Thepilot part of the ACK and a part of the RRI are multiplexed in the pilottime and frequency resource in the code division manner, and the timeand frequency resource on which the part of the RRI is sent is the sameas the time and frequency resource on which the pilot part of the ACK issent, but the respective corresponding codes are different. The datapart of the ACK and the other part of the RRI are multiplexed in thedata time and frequency resource in the code division manner, and thetime and frequency resource on which the other part of the RRI is sentis the same as the time and frequency resource on which the data part ofthe ACK is sent, but the respective corresponding codes are different.

In Step S902, the codes adapted to bear the RRI on the data time andfrequency resource and the pilot time and frequency resource arerespectively allocated for one user terminal, and the user terminal isassigned to send the RRI on both the data time and frequency resourceand the pilot time and frequency resource, which is also called thewhole data and pilot time and frequency resources, at the assigned timepoint. As shown in FIG. 10, the base station respectively allocates thecode1 on the data time and frequency resource and the code2 on the pilottime and frequency resource for the VoIP user terminal A as the RRIcode, and instructs that the sending period is 20 ms (or 20 frame, 1ms/frame), and assigns the VoIP user terminal A to send the RRI at thesecond frame.

The embodiment only including Step S901 and Step S902 provides themethod for resource allocation. When there's data waiting to be sent atthe user terminal, the user terminal sends the RRI to the base station,and then the base station processes the RRI. An embodiment of the methodfor sending the RRI and an embodiment of the method for processing theRRI are introduced respectively through Step S903 and Step S904 asfollows.

In Step S903, when the user terminal has data waiting to be sent, theuser terminal sends the allocated RRI codes on the assigned time point.If the user terminal has the ACK to be sent at the same time, the userterminal may delay sending the RRI until the subsequent time point(sub-frame) assigned by the base station, or may not send the RRI.

In Step S904, after receiving the RRI, the base station detects the RRIcodes in the incoherent detection manner, and determines the userterminal that sends the RRI according to the transmission time point(sub-frame).

In the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, the userterminals and the channels on the same time and frequency resource aremultiplexed as many as possible, thus, the overhead of the time andfrequency resource is reduced. The number of the user terminals andchannels that can be multiplexed at the same time depends on the numberof the obtained time and frequency two-dimensional code sequences, andthe extension of the code sequences in time domain depends on the numberof the OFDM symbols available in time domain.

In the foregoing fifth embodiment, one user terminal sends the RRI onboth the data resources and the pilot resources at the assigned timepoint. If the extended codes, in frequency domain, of the codes on thepilot time and frequency resource and the extended codes of the codes onthe data time and frequency resource are the same, the base station maysupport more user terminals to be multiplexed at the same time in theway as follows. The same extended codes, in frequency domain, on thepilot time and frequency resource and the data time and frequencyresource may be divided into frequency domain code set adapted to bearthe ACK and frequency domain code set adapted to bear the RRI. Then, oneof frequency domain code sets adapted to bear the RRI on the data timeand frequency resource and the pilot time and frequency resource isallocated for one user terminal, and then an unified time domainextension is performed on the whole available data and pilot time domainresources (OFDM symbols in time domain). Besides, the user terminal isinstructed to send the RRI on both the data resources and the pilotresources, which is also called the whole data and pilot time andfrequency resources, at the assigned time point.

For example, a time and frequency resource is shown in FIG. 1. In timedomain, one sub-frame includes two time slots and the information borneby the latter time slot may be a repetition of the information borne bythe former time slot. In one time slot, the pilot time and frequencyresource and the data time and frequency resource occupy 3 and 4 OFDMsymbols respectively. In one time and frequency resource unit, thenumber of the codes accommodated in the pilot time and frequencyresource in one time slot is 18, which includes 6 frequency domainextended codes and 3 time domain extended codes. The number of codesaccommodated in the data time and frequency resource is 24, whichincludes 6 frequency domain extended codes and 4 time domain extendedcodes. The 6 frequency domain extended codes on the pilot time andfrequency resource are the same as the 6 frequency domain extended codeson the data time and frequency resource. Therefore, 3 identicalfrequency domain extended codes on the pilot time and frequency resourceand the data time and frequency resource may be allocated for the ACKchannels, and the other 3 identical frequency domain extended codes onthe pilot time and frequency resource and the data time and frequencyresource are allocated for the RRI. As for the ACK channels, a coherentdetection manner is adopted, so that 3*3=9 code resources exist on 3pilot symbols, and 3*4=12 code resources exist on 4 data symbols, so asto totally support 9 ACK channels. As for the RRI channels, anincoherent detection manner is adopted, and a unified time domainextension is performed on the whole available data and pilot time domainresources (7 OFDM symbols), so as to totally support 3*7=21 RRIchannels. The foregoing method for multiplexing the RRI and the ACK inthe code division manner is also applicable to multiplex the RRI andother uplink control channels (for example, channel quality indicator(CQI)) in a code division manner. That is, frequency domain extendedmanner corresponding to the codes allocated for the RRI is the same asfrequency domain extended manner corresponding to the codes allocatedfor a data part and a pilot part of the CQI, and the codes allocated forthe RRI are orthogonal with the codes allocated for the data part andthe pilot part of the CQI in frequency domain.

The methods provided by the foregoing embodiments may be realized by thedevices in various forms, and some embodiments of the device areintroduced as follows.

An embodiment of a device 12 for allocating a time and frequencyresource includes a selecting unit 1210, an allocating unit 1220, and asending manner assigning unit 1230. The selecting unit 1210 isconfigured to select codes adapted to bear an RRI for user terminalsfrom a code collection which is determined according to a time andfrequency resource allocated for an ACK. The allocating unit 1220 isconfigured to allocate the codes selected by the selecting unit 1210 forthe user terminals. The sending manner assigning unit 1230 is configuredto assign the user terminals to send the RRI on the time and frequencyresource allocated for the ACK.

The device in the foregoing embodiment may be applied to a base station,and accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention further providesa base station 13, which includes a selecting unit 1310, an allocatingunit 1320, and a sending manner assigning unit 1330. The selecting unit1310 is configured to select codes adapted to bear an RRI for userterminals from a code collection which is determined according to a timeand frequency resource allocated for an ACK. The allocating unit 1320 isconfigured to allocate the codes selected by the selecting unit 1310 forthe user terminals. The sending manner assigning unit 1330 is configuredto assign the user terminals to send the RRI on the time and frequencyresource allocated for the ACK.

An embodiment of a device 14 for sending an RRI includes an obtainingunit 1410 and a sending unit 1420. The obtaining unit 1410 is configuredto obtain codes adapted to bear an RRI and time points for sending theRRI, in which the codes adapted to bear the RRI are codes selected froma code collection which is determined according to a time and frequencyresource allocated for an ACK. The sending unit 1420 is configured tosend the codes adapted to bear the RRI on the time and frequencyresource allocated for the ACK at the time points obtained by theobtaining unit 1410, if there's data waiting to be sent.

The device in the foregoing embodiment may be applied to a terminal, andaccordingly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal15, which includes an obtaining unit 1510 and a sending unit 1520. Theobtaining unit 1510 is configured to obtain codes adapted to bear an RRIand time points for sending the RRI, in which the codes adapted to bearthe RRI are codes selected from a code collection which is determinedaccording to a time and frequency resource allocated for an ACK. Thesending unit 1520 is configured to send the codes adapted to bear theRRI on the time and frequency resource allocated for the ACK at the timepoints obtained by the obtaining unit 1510 if there's data waiting to besent.

An embodiment of a device 16 for processing an RRI includes a receivingmodule 1610 and a detecting module 1620 as shown in FIG. 12. Thereceiving module 1610 is configured to receive codes adapted to bear theRRI sent from user terminals on a time and frequency resource allocatedfor an ACK at assigned time points, in which the codes adapted to bearthe RRI are codes selected from a code collection which is determinedaccording to the time and frequency resource allocated for the ACK, andthe assigned time points are time points pre-assigned for the userterminals to send the RRI. The detecting module 1620 is configured todetect the codes adapted to bear the RRI, so as to determine the userterminal that sends the codes.

The device in the foregoing embodiment may be applied to a base station,and accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a basestation 17, which includes a receiving module 1710 and a detectingmodule 1720. The receiving module 1710 is configured to receive codesadapted to bear an RRI sent from user terminals on a time and frequencyresource allocated for an ACK at assigned time points, in which thecodes adapted to bear the RRI are codes selected from a code collectionwhich is determined according to the time and frequency resourceallocated for the ACK, and the assigned time points are time pointspre-assigned for the user terminals to send the RRI. The detectingmodule 1720 is configured to detect the codes adapted to bear the RRI,so as to determine the user terminal that sends the codes.

It should be noted that, in all the foregoing embodiments for allocatingthe time and frequency resource, the codes reserved for the ACK may bedetermined firstly, that is, the specific codes reserved for the ACK aredetermined at first, and then all or a part of the other codes are takenas the RRI codes. Alternatively, the number of the codes reserved forthe ACK may be determined firstly, that is, how many codes reserved forthe ACK instead of the specific codes reserved for the ACK is determinedat first. When the RRI codes are allocated for the user terminals, anycode that is not allocated for the ACK may be allocated for the userterminals, and the total number of the allocated RRI codes does notexceed a difference between the total number of all the codes and thenumber of the codes reserved for the ACK.

In all the foregoing embodiments for allocating the time and frequencyresource, the signal which shares the time and frequency resource withthe RRI may the other control signaling. For example, the time andfrequency resource is shared by the CQI signal and the RRI.

The above various manners for allocating the time and frequency resourcefor the RRI may be combined to use. For example, one part of the coderesources allocated for the RRI may adopt the manner of one embodiment,and the other part may adopt the manner of another embodiment.

In all the foregoing embodiments for allocating the time and frequencyresource, if the number of the codes allocated for the RRI does not meetthe demand of the user terminals, a part of the codes reserved for theACK may be adjusted to serve as the RRI codes, or the number of thecodes reserved for the ACK may be reduced, so that more codes areallocated for the RRI. In addition, the codes on the time and frequencyresources other than the time and frequency resource allocated for theACK may also serve as the RRI codes.

In all the foregoing embodiments for sending the RRI, if the RRI needsto be sent at the assigned time point, and the ACK needs to be sent atthe same time, the ACK may be not sent.

In all the foregoing embodiments for processing the RRI, the basestation may consider the detection result in each time slot of each timepoint (sub-frame), and determine the user terminal that sends the RRI orwhether a certain user terminal sends the RRI at the time point or not.

Although the invention has been described through some exemplaryembodiments, it is apparent that those skilled in the art can makevarious modifications and variations to the invention without departingfrom the scope of the invention. The invention is intended to cover themodifications and variations provided that they fall in the scope ofprotection defined by the following claims or their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user terminal, the user terminal comprising: atransmitter, and a processor coupled with the transmitter, wherein theprocessor being operable to obtain a code set that is allocated for aresource request indicator (RRI), wherein the RRI comprises a first partand a second part, the code set comprising a first code allocated forthe first part of the RRI, a second code allocated for the first part ofthe RRI, a third code allocated for the second part of the RRI and afourth code allocated for the second part of the RRI, and the first codeallocated for the first part of the RRI, the second code allocated forthe first part of the RRI, the third code allocated for the second partof the RRI and the fourth code allocated for the second part of the RRIare allocated to the user terminal for one slot; the transmitter beingoperable to send the RRI using the code set, wherein in a time domain,an extended manner corresponding to the first code allocated for a firstpart of the RRI is identical to an extended manner corresponding to afirst code allocated for a pilot part of non-RRI uplink controlsignaling; in a frequency domain, an extended manner corresponding tothe second code allocated for the first part of the RRI is identical toan extended manner corresponding to a second code allocated for thepilot part of the non-RRI uplink control signaling; in the time domain,an extended manner corresponding to the third code allocated for asecond part of the RRI is identical to an extended manner correspondingto a third code allocated for a data part of the non-RRI uplink controlsignaling; and in the frequency domain, an extended manner correspondingto the fourth code allocated for the second part of the RRI is identicalto an extended manner corresponding to a fourth code allocated for thedata part of the non-RRI uplink control signaling.
 2. The user terminalaccording to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the first code and thesecond code that are allocated for the first part of the RRI isorthogonal to the corresponding code allocated for the pilot part of thenon-RRI uplink control signaling, and at least one of the third code andthe fourth code that are allocated for the second part of the RRI isorthogonal to the corresponding code allocated for the data part of thenon-RRI uplink control signaling.
 3. The user terminal according toclaim 2, wherein: the first code allocated for the first part of theRRI, the first code allocated for the pilot part of non-RRI uplinkcontrol signaling, the second code allocated for the first part of theRRI and the second code allocated for the pilot part of the non-RRIuplink control signaling are sent in the same time and frequencyresource; and the third code allocated for the second part of the RRI,the third code allocated for the data part of the non-RRI uplink controlsignaling, the fourth code allocated for the second part of the RRI andthe fourth code allocated for the data part of the non-RRI uplinkcontrol signaling are sent utilizing same time and frequency resource.4. The user terminal according to claim 3, wherein the non-RRI uplinkcontrol signaling is an acknowledgement or negative-acknowledgementsignal.
 5. The user terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: areceiver coupled with the processor, wherein the receiver is operable toreceive a parameter from a base station; and the processor is operableto use the parameter to obtain the code set.
 6. The user terminalaccording to claim 1, wherein the non-RRI uplink control signaling is anacknowledgement or negative-acknowledgement signal.
 7. A method forsending a resource request indicator (RRI), comprising: obtaining a codeset that is allocated for the RRI, wherein the RRI comprises a firstpart and a second part, and the code set comprises a first codeallocated for the first part of the RRI, a second code allocated for thefirst part of the RRI, a third code allocated for the second part of theRRI and a fourth code allocated for the second part of the RRI, and thefirst code allocated for the first part of the RRI, the second codeallocated for the first part of the RRI, the third code allocated forthe second part of the RRI and the fourth code allocated for the secondpart of the RRI are allocated to a user terminal for one slot; andsending the RRI using the code set, wherein in a time domain, anextended manner corresponding to the first code allocated for a firstpart of the RRI is identical to an extended manner corresponding to afirst code allocated for a pilot part of non-RRI uplink controlsignaling; in a frequency domain, an extended manner corresponding tothe second code allocated for the first part of the RRI is identical toan extended manner corresponding to a second code allocated for thepilot part of the non-RRI uplink control signaling; in the time domain,an extended manner corresponding to the third code allocated for asecond part of the RRI is identical to an extended manner correspondingto a third code allocated for a data part of the non-RRI uplink controlsignaling; in the frequency domain, an extended manner corresponding tothe fourth code allocated for the second part of the RRI is identical toan extended manner corresponding to a fourth code allocated for the datapart of the non-RRI uplink control signaling.
 8. The method according toclaim 7, wherein: at least one of the first code and the second codethat are allocated for the first part of the RRI is orthogonal to thecorresponding code allocated for the pilot part of the non-RRI uplinkcontrol signaling, and at least one of the third code and the fourthcode that are allocated for the second part of the RRI is orthogonal tothe corresponding code allocated for the data part of the non-RRI uplinkcontrol signaling.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: thefirst code allocated for the first part of the RRI, the first codeallocated for the pilot part of non-RRI uplink control signaling, thesecond code allocated for the first part of the RRI and the second codeallocated for the pilot part of the non-RRI uplink control signaling aresent utilizing same time and frequency resource; and the third codeallocated for the second part of the RRI, the third code allocated forthe data part of the non-RRI uplink control signaling, the fourth codeallocated for the second part of the RRI and the fourth code allocatedfor the data part of the non-RRI uplink control signaling are sent inthe same time and frequency resource.
 10. The method according to claim9, wherein the non-RRI uplink control signaling is an acknowledgement ornegative-acknowledgement signal.
 11. The method according to claim 7,further comprising: receiving a parameter from a base station, whereinthe obtaining a code set that is allocated for the RRI comprises usingthe parameter to obtain the code set that is allocated for the RRI. 12.The method according to claim 7, wherein the non-RRI uplink controlsignaling is an acknowledgement or negative-acknowledgement signal.